Abstract: A completions insertion and retrieval under pressure (CIRP) apparatus utilizes a snaplock connector to assemble uphole a tool string of any desired length prior to lowering the tool string into a wellbore for performing wellbore operations in the wellbore. The tool string could comprise a perforating gun string including a plurality of perforating guns interleaved with a corresponding plurality of snaplock connectors. The CIRP apparatus includes a winch housing connected to a lubricator, the lubricator being connected to a valve, the valve being connected to a connection apparatus, such as a deployment BOP or a snaplock operator, the connection apparatus being connected to a work string which extends into the wellbore.

Abstract: A downhole valve for use within a string of tools in a well for controlling a hydraulic activation circuit. The valve has a housing with an inlet and an outlet, defining a portion of the circuit extending between the inlet and the outlet. A moveable piston within the housing in a first position provides communication between uphole and downhole parts of the circuit, and in a second position isolates the uphole and downhole parts of the circuit. A frangible member is constructed to support, in an intact condition, the piston in one of these two positions against a biasing force, and in a shattered condition enables the piston to move in response to the biasing force to the other position. A detonating member extending through the frangible member propagates a detonation wave to shatter the frangible member when desired, closing the valve.

Abstract: A tool for performing a downhole function in a horizontal or highly deviated well has a downhole structure with a longitudinal axis and constructed to turn about the axis in response to a moment applied about the axis. The structure includes at least one ballast chamber containing a flowable inert ballast material, such that the gravitational center of the material-containing chamber is effectively offset from the longitudinal axis of the structure to enable the chamber to contribute to gravitational orientation of the tool within the well to a desired position. In another configuration, the structure is rotatable within a housing and supported by bearings. The chamber is preferably filled with tungsten or depleted uranium powder for maximum density. A swivel for use with the tool, capable of passing both hydraulic pressure and detonation waves, decreases the overall length of the rotating part of the tool string.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for activating a device in a well, such as firing a perforating gun in a well. An electrically-activated firing system is coupled to an actuating assembly, which includes a release piston movable by fluid pressure, a firing pin, and a frangible element connected to hold the release piston in place, the frangible element being shattered in response to electrical activation of the firing system. A locking mechanism locks the firing pin to prevent movement of the firing pin, and the release piston is connected to release the locking mechanism if a minimum amount of fluid pressure is applied to the release piston after electrical activation of the firing system. A detonating assembly is connected to the perforating gun and is activable by the firing pin. The detonating assembly is activated when the firing pin is released by the locking mechanism to impact the detonating assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for sequentially performing multiple downhole functions in a well has tubing arranged to transmit pressure conditions from the surface of the well, upper and lower hydraulically activated firing heads suspended within the well on the lower end of the tubing, and a hydraulically responsive movable member between the tubing and the firing heads. Each firing head is configured to detonate an associated tool in response to an associated elevated tubing pressure condition. The movable member transmits a first elevated pressure condition to activate one of the firing heads, and moves in response to a subsequent elevated pressure condition to activate the other firing head. In one embodiment, the movable member has a through passage for transmitting the first elevated pressure condition, the passage being subsequently blocked by a ball dropped through the tubing to move the member in response to the second elevated tubing pressure condition.

Abstract: A downhole device and method for performing a function in a well. The device has a series of dedicated hydro-mechanical locks that prevent occurrence of an associated function. The hydro-mechanical locks are capable of being released directly by a respective elevated hydraulic activating pressure condition, and are constructed and arranged for sequential operation, such that a successive lock in the series cannot be released until after the hydraulic pressure condition required to release the preceding lock in the series has occurred. In a preferred embodiment, an actuator sequentially releases each lock in a series of locks, subsequently moving an operator to perform a function. A preferred implementation employs a series of resilient rings movable, sequentially, from a locking to an unlocking position, and a common actuator that effects these movements.

Abstract: A system for creating an image of a combination of a completion string in a wellbore. An image of the wellbore is received and created. In addition, modeled data of the completion string is also created and received. The wellbore image data is combined with the completion string model data to create an image of the completion string positioned in the wellbore. Based on the combined image of the wellbore and a completion string, possible problem areas and optimum production zones are identified. The wellbore and completion string are deflected based on relative characteristics of the wellbore and completion string.

Abstract: A downhole valve is disclosed for use in a tubing-conveyed string of tools in a well bore, constructed to be actuated to open under pressure forces by dropping a drop bar from the well surface through the tubing. The valve, deployed in the well in a closed condition, has a frangible member arranged to be broken by the drop bar to enable the valve to open. The valve opens under well pressure forces when well pressure exceeds tubing pressure, and opens under tubing pressure forces when tubing pressure exceeds or substantially equals well pressure. The valve is particularly useful when opened in conjunction with the detonation of a perforating gun for overbalanced or underbalanced well perforation. Methods of operating a string of tools including the valve are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for determining the anisotropic properties of an unknown earth formation by means of seismic exploration includes generating seismic signals for propagation through the unknown formation. A range of seismic data samples generated by the propagation of the signals through the unknown formation is detected, and the detected samples are affected by the anisotropic properties of the unknown formation. A group of postulated anisotropic properties which would cause known perturbations in seismic signals are selected for the unknown formation. The detected range of seismic data samples from the unknown earth formation is compared with estimated ranges that could have been produced by seismic signals propagating through earth formations made up with differing weighting of components of the postulated anisotropic properties.

Abstract: A completions insertion and retrieval under pressure (CIRP) apparatus utilizes a snaplock connector to assemble uphole a tool string of any desired length prior to lowering the tool string into a wellbore for performing wellbore operations in the wellbore. The tool string could comprise a perforating gun string including a plurality of perforating guns interleaved with a corresponding plurality of snaplock connectors. The CIRP apparatus includes a winch housing connected to a lubricator, the lubricator being connected to a valve, the valve being connected to a connection apparatus, such as a deployment BOP or a snaplock operator, the connection apparatus being connected to a work string which extends into the wellbore.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for sealing an inner wall of a portion of a casing positioned in a well employs an inflatable sleeve having an outer surface and a conformable composite sleeve of curable composition extending around the outer surface of the inflatable sleeve. The inflatable sleeve is inflated to compress the composite sleeve against the surface of the inner casing wall. A local, activatable energy source, positioned downhole to deliver heat to the composite sleeve, is activated to cure the composite sleeve to form a hardened sleeve. The hardened sleeve presses against the inner wall of the casing portion to create a fluid seal. The embodiments shown have a number of preferred features. The local energy source includes an exothermic heat energy source for generating heat energy to cure the composite sleeve. The composite sleeve includes a mixture of resin and a curing agent, and the exothermic heat source includes thermite. The thermite includes a composition having a metal oxide and a reductant.

Abstract: A valve for use downhole in a wellbore can be repeatedly opened and closed any number of times in response to a pressure signal transmitted down the annulus of the wellbore. The valve is set and changes from a first position to a second position in response to a first pressure signal transmitted down the annulus, a pressure value of the first pressure signal transmitted down the annulus being greater than a pressure value of a pressure existing in an inside annular space of the valve by an amount at least equal to a predetermined value. The valve resets itself and changes back from the second position to the first position in response to a second pressure signal transmitted down the annulus, the pressure value of the pressure existing in the inside annular space of the valve being greater than a pressure value of the second pressure signal transmitted down the annulus by an amount at least equal to the predetermined value.

Abstract: A perforating gun having a base structure made of a deformable material. The base structure includes support rings integrally attached to one another by connector portions. The capsule charges are mounted in corresponding support rings, and each support ring is adjustable by selective deformation of the base structure to face in one of a plurality of directions to provide a plurality of combinations of phasing patterns.

Abstract: A formation isolation valve (FIV) method and apparatus is disclosed for building a tool string of any desired length prior to lowering that tool string downhole for the purpose of performing wellbore operations during a single trip into the wellbore.

Abstract: A slickline conveyed perforating method and apparatus is adapted to be disposed in an extremely small diameter cased borehole, especially during extreme overbalanced perforating conditions, and the apparatus includes one or more shock absorbed pressure and temperature measurement gauges adapted for measuring the pressure and temperature in the small diameter cased borehole before, during, and after the perforating operation. An "extremely small diameter" borehole is defined as a borehole which has a diameter that is always less than the diameter of any production tubing which would normally be inserted into the borehole.

Abstract: A new zonal isolation method and apparatus perforates a plurality of zones of a formation, while isolating each perforated zone from every other zone, with one trip into wellbore, and without requiring the circulation of a kill fluid throughout the wellbore following perforation to kill the well so that a packer and/or a perforating gun may be removed from the well. The new zonal isolation apparatus includes a perforating gun and a plug or packer connected to the perforating gun. The new zonal isolation method includes detonating the perforating gun thereby creating a set of perforations in the formation; moving the perforating gun and plug/packer uphole until the plug/packer is situated at a particular position in the wellbore which is disposed directly above the set of perforations in the formation; and setting the plug/packer at the particular position in the wellbore.

Abstract: A multiple wellbore tool apparatus consisting of a plurality of microprocessor implemented wellbore tools is disposed in a fluid filled wellbore, and an input stimulus having a predetermined signature propagates down the wellbore fluid to all of the wellbore tools. The plurality of wellbore tools each include a microprocessor implemented controller board as well as an included wellbore tool and an acoustic receiver transmitter transducer connected to an output of the controller board. In addition, each of the microprocessors of each controller board include a memory which stores its own unique microcode programming. In response to the input stimulus, the controller board of a first wellbore tool determines that a correspondence exists between the signature of the stimulus and information stored therein and generates an output signal.

Abstract: A packer assembly adapted to be disposed in a wellbore includes a packer and a packer lock apparatus, the packer lock apparatus including a lock and release apparatus for locking the packer in an unset condition, releasing the lock on the packer which locks the packer in the unset condition when the packer is lowered into a smaller diameter casing in the wellbore, allowing the packer to begin changing from the unset condition to a set condition, and a time delay apparatus for requiring a predetermined time period to elapse, following the release by the lock and release apparatus of the lock on the packer, before the packer can be fully changed from the unset condition to the set condition. As a result, the entire packer will be disposed within the smaller diameter casing before the packer is fully set.

Abstract: A method is provided for processing seismic data samples obtained from seismic signals propagating in an anisotropic medium. The data samples are associated with scattering angles and azimuth at each migration dip at each image point of the medium. An inverse operator is then applied to the samples so as to provide intermediate anisotropic elastic parameter combinations for each migration dip at each point of the medium. The inverse operator comprises an inverse of a scattering function for variations in elastic parameters from a reference medium against scattering angle and migration dip. The intermediate anisotropic elastic parameter combinations are then migrated to their proper locations.

Abstract: A perforating gun includes a multiplicity of shaped charges, the multiplicity of shaped charges including a plurality of planes of charges, each plane of charges including a plurality (N) of shaped charges and a detonating cord running down through the axial center of each of the plurality of planes of charges. The plurality (N) of shaped charges are equally spaced at an angle 360/N about the detonating cord. The plurality of planes of charges: (1) are rotated at an angle of 180/N relative to one another, and (2) are axially packed together along the longitudinal axis of the gun so that the charges in one plane are nearly touching the charges in the adjacent plane, yet they all share the same centered detonating cord. The proximity of one plane to another is close enough such that one plane of charges detonates within a few microseconds of its neighboring plane of charges.